Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions or comments please email tealaden@tealaden.com or call us at 1-800-518-2096.
1. How do you make a perfect cup of tea?
For a full explanation click here.
2. What is the best method for storing tea and how long will it last?
For a full explanation click here.
3. Would an electric tea brewer make a better cup of tea than the traditional way of making tea?
Different teas require different water temperatures and brewing times. An electric brewer is not designed to take this into consideration when brewing tea. Brewing a cup of tea is personal, since one would want to brew the tea to their taste or to the taste of their guests. One other thought is that brewing tea is a ritual that differs with each person. A person's mood can be calmed if agitated by just going through the comfy routine of making a cup of tea (putting on the water to boil, choosing a cup and saucer, gathering the implements like the tea cosy, tray, timer, etc.
4. What do you do with the hook on the end of the tea ball?
Simply loop the chain of the tea ball around the handle of the teapot and secure with the hook by hooking it into the chain. This keeps the tea ball from falling completely into the teapot and making it difficult to remove it.
5. Why does my teapot drip and is there any way to fix it?
There are generally two reasons a teapot drips. One reason maybe that the part of the spout that attaches to the pot is too small to allow room for the tea to run back into the pot after pouring. The other reason could be that the tip of the spout was made incorrectly and a drop of tea is hanging from the tip of the spout. Check out our drip catchers and other gadgets if you have this problem.
6. Is herbal tea the same as black and green tea?
Herbal "teas" contain no true tea leaves, but are made by combining herbs, dried fruits and spices such as camomile, mint, hibiscus, cinnamon, etc. to create appealing aromas and flavors. These herbal beverages are usually steeped for 5-7 minutes or longer according to taste.
For a full explanation on the different types of teas, click here.
7. What is Red Tea?
Red Tea is also known as Rooibos It is an indigenous herb of South Africa that is made from the fine needle-like leaves of the "Aspalathus linearis" plant. At the turn of the century in the Cedarberg Mountain wilderness just north of Capetown, the locals harvested the wild plants with axes and hammers, leaving them to oxidize before drying in the sun. During the plant's ripening process the leaves develop a reddish brown color, explaining why it was given its name "Rooibos" or "Red Bush". Rooibos has many health benefits along with lots of minerals.
8.What is a Tea Brick?
Centuries ago the Chinese, who created the earliest banking system with coins and paper bank notes, found that their currency had no value when trading with people in far away Mongolia and Tibet. Their solution to this problem was to turn their most valued product, tea, into bricks. The tea bricks were even scored so they could be broken to make change. The tea was pressed into molds and were much easier to carry.
Today, these sculpted tea bricks with traditional Chinese motifs, are mainly used for decoration as the quality of the tea is very poor. They make great tea trivets or wall hangings and are the perfect gift for tea lovers. To maintain your tea brick, apply a thin coat of clear lacquer to protect it from humidity and to keep the corners and edges from crumbling.
9. Is sun tea safe?
Sun tea has become a staple of summer, however drinking sun tea can be unsafe. Brewing tap water outside for several hours encourages the growth of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. To have a safe and healthy summer, try brewing your tea in the refrigerator or double the strength of brewed tea and add ice to cool.
